How to Identify Lameness in Cats

Written by Shula Berg BVSc CertAVP(GSAS) GPAdvCert(SASTS) MRCVS
Clinically reviewed by Elizabeth McLennan-Green BVM&S CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS

Table Of Contents

- What is lameness?
- Lameness os a single limb
- Lameness of multiple limbs 
- Signs of joint pain in cats 
- Clinical Metrology Scoring 
- The feline osteoarthritis checklist and next steps 

Lameness is the inability to walk normally due to injury, weakness or discomfort. A cat that is lame may have an obvious limp on a single leg, or may have an irregular, stilted or uneven gait. Generally, lameness is caused by problems in one or more limbs but can also be caused by problems with the spine. 

Lameness of a single limb is usually easy to see, as the cat will hold it in the air and refuse to use it at all or have an obvious hobble as they try to protect the painful leg. Lameness of a single leg is most commonly due to injury, such as a broken bone, pulled muscle, or cat bite. Severe, sudden lameness that doesn’t resolve within a few hours should always be checked by a vet. 

Lameness of multiple limbs can be harder to spot, as the cat can’t avoid putting weight through more than one limb at a time. Multi-limb lameness is more commonly due to chronic conditions, such as arthritis. As they cannot simply protect the painful leg, cats with problems in more than one limb tend to adapt their gait and lifestyle to cope with discomfort. Cats are especially prone to hiding problems, so multi-limb lameness can be very hard to identify. This is especially true when lameness is caused by conditions that develop slowly, such as arthritis, as changes occur gradually over time. 

This means that we cannot assume a cat is not lame, or indeed painful, just because they are not holding a leg in the air as they walk. Other, less obvious, signs of joint pain include: 

• Sleeping or hiding away more than usual 

• Hesitating before jumping up, using the front legs to complete the jump  

• Reluctant to jump down, takes an easier route or steps rather than leaps  

• Slow to climb up or down stairs, taking one step at a time or taking a break part-way  

• Reduced play, especially jumping and chasing  

• Reduced or absent grooming, especially over the backend  

• Toileting outside of the litter tray, especially if high-sided  

• Less willing to interact, grumpy behaviour 

Clinical Metrology Scoring 

Although we can often say that a cat is lame from watching them walk, it is a very subjective assessment, and different people may consider the lameness to be more or less severe. This makes it especially difficult to assess progression or response to treatment. Additionally, as vets and nurses we only see your pet for a short period in the clinic, and this may not reflect what you are seeing at home. Adrenaline is an excellent pain relief, and cats especially are often known for their complete refusal to walk in the clinic. 

Metrology is the study of measurements, and clinical metrology scoring is a validated system to grade a pet’s lameness in an objective and repeatable way. Metrology scoring enables pet owners to provide information in a way that clinical staff can interpret safely and repeatably. This can be used in an initial assessment to determine the degree of lameness present and therefore the most appropriate treatment plan. Repeated metrology scoring enables us to monitor response to treatment and support clinical decision making to provide the best care for your pet. 

Lameness is much harder to detect in cats, as we don’t expect them to exercise alongside us as we do with dogs. Cats are also masters at hiding signs of pain. 

The feline osteoarthritis checklist helps to identify signs of arthritis in your cat by asking a series of questions about their activity levels and behaviour. Examples are given to help with accurate answering, such as graphics demonstrating normal and abnormal movements. Once completed, the results can be printed out or emailed directly to your vet. 

The feline osteoarthritis checklist is available here: Feline Osteoarthritis Checklist | Zoetis Petcare.

If you are concerned that your cat may be lame, we recommend arranging a check with your vet. They will examine the joints for pain, swelling and abnormal movement, as well as checking the long bones and spine if appropriate. Depending on what is found, they may recommend a treatment trial, or further investigations such as x-rays. 

Disclaimer

Please note that the content made available on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Whilst we try to ensure that at the time of writing all material is up to date and reflects industry standards, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees that the information made available is up to date, accurate or complete. Any reliance placed by yourselves is done so at your own risk.

Page last reviewed: 3rd January 2025

Next review due: 3rd January 2027